Available online at:

Al-Fiziya: Journal of Materials Science, Geophysics,

Instrumentation and Theoretical Physics
Website: http://journal.uinjkt.ac.id/index.php/al-fiziya
Vol.5 No. I Tahun 2022, 72 - 76

Evaluation Of Coal Distribution For Alternative Energy Using

Seismic Spectral Decomposition

Praditiyo Riyadi 1,†, Arkanu Andaru2

1
Physics Study Program, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, State Islamic University Syarif
Hidayatullah Jakarta, Ir. H. Djuanda Street No.95, Cempaka Putih, Ciputat, South Tangerang,
Banten 15412, Indonesia
2
School of Computing, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Australian National
University, 108 North Road, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia

†
praditiyo.riyadi@uinjkt.ac.id

Submitted: September 2020; Revised: October 2021; Approved: June 2022; Available Online:
Desember 2022

Abstract. Indonesia is the largest coal producer in the world, and Sumatera is one of the
contributors to Indonesia's coal production. Coal is generally widely used for industrial fuel or
power plants with production directly on the surface. The technology to develop coal into
alternative energy sources (Coal Bed Methane (CBM) & Underground Coal Gasification (UCG))
began to develop with various production methods in the earth without having to be exploited
directly. To apply this production method, it is necessary to analyze the distribution of coal below
the earth's surface. The research area is located in the South Sumatera Basin with coal targets in
the Muara Enim Formation. The data consists of 3D seismic data and well data as validation. From
the well data, it was identified that there was coal in two zones, with an average thickness in Zone
A reaching 6 meters while in Zone B the average thickness reaching 11 meters. The results of the
amplitude spectrum analysis from the seismic data, obtained three dominant frequency trends
from seismic data, 26 Hz, 42 Hz, and 58 Hz. By using the calculation of ¼ wavelength, the
frequency that matches the thickness of the coal is 58 Hz for Zone A and 42 Hz for Zone B coal
layer. Seismic amplitudes are then separated based on their frequency using the Spectral
Decomposition method, and the distribution of coal is validated with existing well data.

Keywords: Coal, Alternative Energy, Frequency, Spectral Decomposition, South Sumatera Basin

DOI: 10.15408/fiziya.v5i1.26670

INTRODUCTION

Coal that was originally a mining commodity began to be utilized for

unconventional energy that can be used in the long term. Coal Bed Methane (CBM) and
Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) is a method used to obtain alternative energy from
the coal [1]. South Sumatra Basin has is one of the larges potential coals in Indonesia, as
for the coal bearing formation in this basin is Muara Enim formation [6]. Muara Enim
formation deposited in sallow marine to parallic and non-marine environments [4]. This
formation consists of claystone’s and shales intercalated by sandstone and coal layer
(Figure 1). On other hand, based on analysis of well and seismic data, divided Muara Enim
Copyright©2019, Published by Al-Fiziya: Journal of Materials Science, Geophysics,
Instrumentation and Theoretical Physics
P-ISSN: 2621-0215, E-ISSN: 2621-489X
Al-Fiziya: Journal of Materials Science, Geophysics, Vol.5 No. I Tahun 2022, 72 - 76
Instrumentation and Theoretical Physics P-ISSN: 2621-0215, E-ISSN: 2621-489X

formation into two depositional packages: Lower and Upper Muara Enim formation,
These two depositional packages consist of three sub-environments, they are tidal mud
flat, tidal mixed flat and tidal sand flat environment [12]. Knowing the distribution of coal
for unconventional energy targets is an important step, in which the objective is to
maximize production in the case of CBM and reduce the level of hazard in the case of
UCG method in the target field [13][15]

Figure. 1 Regional stratigraphy of south sumatera basin (Heidrik & Aulia, 1993)

Spectral decomposition is a method of signals processing on the seismic data

[2][3]. By utilizing frequencies in seismic data, spectral decomposition is useful to
distinguish the lithology of the target area vertically and laterally on the seismic data [5].
The lateral coal distribution analysis will provide geologically useful information, thereby
increasing success for unconventional energy exploration on the target field [11].

DATA AND METHOD

There are 10 wells that reach the coal target, and the well data is used for the
validator. The target consists of two layers of Zone A coal and Zone B coal.

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Al-Fiziya: Journal of Materials Science, Geophysics, Vol.5 No. I Tahun 2022, 72 - 76
Instrumentation and Theoretical Physics P-ISSN: 2621-0215, E-ISSN: 2621-489X

Figure. 2 Coal zone in the well correlation of study area

Coal thickness in Zone A reaches an average thickness of 6 m, whereas in Zone B
coal reaches an average thickness of almost 11 m. From the result of correlation of 10
wells directed NW - SE in the study area visible thickness of coal that is consistent from
Zone A and Zone B (Figure 2). There are 10 wells that reach the coal target, and the well
data is used for the validator. There is also 3D seismic data in this research area, but need
to do the data conditioning first in order to reduce the high frequency noise contained
in the data [10][14]. The method used for conditioning is the Dip-Steering Median Filter
(Figure 3). There are 10 wells that reach the coal target, and the well data is used for the
validator.

Figure. 3 Seismic 3D on target area before (left) and after (right) conditioning

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Al-Fiziya: Journal of Materials Science, Geophysics, Vol.5 No. I Tahun 2022, 72 - 76
Instrumentation and Theoretical Physics P-ISSN: 2621-0215, E-ISSN: 2621-489X

There are various methods of spectral decomposition such as Short Time Fourier
Transform (STFT), Continuous Wavelet Transform (CWT), and Hilbert-Huang Transform
(HHT) [7], but in this research will be used continuous Wavelet Transform (CWT) method.
The CWT method is principally to find a match of the input signal / wavelet provided with
the seismic data, that is by stretch and squeeze (scaling) the input signal and correlate
all the time to the seismic data [8][9].

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

From the results of depositional coal in the target area is Muara Enim formation on
Zone A and Zone B coal. Based on correlation log depositional environment the target
area is lacustrine. Based on seismic and well data, trend coal structure of Zone A and
Zone B is homocline structure. Amplitude spectrum analysis on the seismic data used in
the target area of research, obtained of three different frequencies on the coal targets
area (Figure 4). These three frequencies are generated from three maximum amplitudes
in the target area (Zone A and Zone B). Using tuning thickness analysis of ¼ wavelength,
the distance of the seismic scope in the vertical limit is 5.46 m at 58 Hz frequency, 9.87
m at 42 Hz frequency and 15.52 m at 26 Hz frequency. So that the value of seismic
resolution that is close to the thickness of coal in Zone A which has an average thickness
of 6 meters is 58 Hz, and in Zone B with an average thickness of 11 meters is 42 Hz.
Spectral decomposition seismic attributes were distributed using a frequency of 58 Hz
for Zone A and 42 Hz for Zone B coal zone. Strong amplitude of the Spectral
Decomposition Attribute results with a high value is the correlation of the sought coal
thickness. It is clear that the distribution of coal in Zone A and Zone B is validated by well
data (Figure 3). The result of the Spectral decomposition attribute indicates coal Zone A
and Zone B direction SE-NW, which is the main direction of coal distribution.

Figure. 4 (a) Area of interest in seismic (b) Seismic amplitude spectrum analysis

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Al-Fiziya: Journal of Materials Science, Geophysics, Vol.5 No. I Tahun 2022, 72 - 76
Instrumentation and Theoretical Physics P-ISSN: 2621-0215, E-ISSN: 2621-489X

Figure. 5 Coal distribution (yellow to red) from spectral decomposition attributes at 58 Hz

frequency in the Zone A (left) and 42 Hz frequency in Zone B (right)

CONCLUSIONS

Spectral decomposition method is very useful to see the distribution of coal in the
target zone of Zone A and Zone B with a coal thickness around 6 to 11 m and the
frequency of seismic data obtained to achieve the target zone thickness is 58 Hz for Zone
A and 42 Hz for Zone B coal zone. Strong amplitude of the Spectral Decomposition
Attribute results indicated by a high value is the distribution of coal which is validated by
well data penetrating in the coal zone. There is a prospect area for new drilling on the
Zone A and zone B coal zone in the South East of study area. This area of research is
suitable for unconventional target energy methods such as CBM and UCG, due to the
continuous expanse of coal extending towards the NW-SE.

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